IN spite of the sudden heavy downpour that lasted over an hour, the grand opening of the 2015 Bangus Festival, ushered in by the Gilon! Gilon! ed Baley, proceeded and drenched street dancers performed with more gusto that elicited loud cheers from the crowd that lined the city’s main avenues.

And defending champion Barangay Pantal proved still to be the best!

Pantal has earned the right to represent the city anew in the Festivals of the North on April 26. The contingent is also the defending champion.

Besting 18 other contingents, Pantal won the plum as a back-to-back champion with their colorful costume and their masterful execution of the movements of fish farmers in harvesting of bangus as evidenced by being adjudged the best in costume and in street dancing.

Coming in second was Gilon! Gilon!’s hall of famer, Barangay Lucao, which also won “best in musicality” award this year.

Barangay Tebeng improved its fourth place finish last year by emerging as this year’s second runner-up while Barangay Caranglaan was 3^rd runner-up and Barangay Tapuac landed as this year’s 4^th runner-up.  Tapuac was not among the top five winners last year.

Pantal received a cash prize of P150,000; Lucao, P100,000; Tebeng, P80,000; Caranglaan, P60,000; and Tapuac, P50,000. Pantal and Lucao received additional P10,000 for bagging each of the minor awards.

Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, the honorary chairperson in the Bangus Festival 2015, expressed elation over the spirit of the dancers, who like her was soaked in the rain while leading the parade.

Pantal will defend its crown in this year’s Festivals of the North on April 26 against 14 contingents from Pangasinan, Zambales, Bulacan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union. (CIO)

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